The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-07-01
MANKAro FREE Press.
FRIDAY. JULY !. 1887.
THE SEWER MATTER.
Discussed at a Special Meeting of the Ooun'
Gil Friday Evening.

blsCusScu bIa ppociai mootihS vi Vho oo"A
Gil Friday Evening.
Mr.. F. s. Blodgett's vIews.-A Let
ter from Mr.. Loweth.
The city fathers held special meeting
r,dav evening, and heard the views OF
Mr.. Blodgett, the expert engineer from
Milwaukee, in regard 10 the matter of
sewerage system for Mankats.
In response Ia an invitation from
Mayor Pau, Mr.. Blodgett took the floor
and stated that he had looked over the
ground and examined the plans already
made. He thought the latter were very
good. They had been made several
years ago, since which time some of the
conditions had changed, which would
make some alterations desirable. Among
the most important of these is the loca-
ton of the outlet on Plum street, instead
of on Washington, and he favored hay
ing the sewer used for an outlet extend
from Fifth street down TO the river. He
thought the trunk sewer should be
placed on Front street, the grade on
Second not being favorable, and said
that the sewer should be somewhat
larger, and laid deeper than the plans
contemplated. The middle of the street
is the best place for a sewer. AS to the
depth and grade, Mr.. Blodget said the
sewer should be about ID feet deep ut
Warren's creek, in order that property
in that vicinity might be drained. The
grade from that point should be suffi-
cient to carry off the water rapidly. lie
said that Mr.. Loweth's plans were cor
rect and scientifically drawn.
Mr.. Blodget said that the sewer would
certainly take the water out of the
ground. He gave instances within his
knowledge where in putting i'm sewers
water had been struck at depth of
eight feet, whereas now il could not be
found ut fifteen.
He was positive in his opinion that the
sewer should be deeper even than the
plans contemplated, and he also favored
larger diameter. The cost would be
but a trifie more, and the results much
more satisfactory.
AS To the water backing up during
freshets, he said that gates of private
drains might have To be closed few
days, but no serious inconvenience
would occur. If the sewer was proper
ly laid il would run during high water
the same as at any other time, the head
being above the surface of the river. He
referred to a proposed sewer at st. Paul
in support of his statement.
In answer to queries from members of
the council Mr.. Blodgett said fat-bot-
toned sewers should never be put i'm;
that il would be more expensive to run
sewers on each street to the river; $50
feet of the street would have to be open
ut Il time, and 50 feet progress per day
should he made; he thought there would
not lie much difficulty in laying the sew
er AT the depth contemplated, though
quicksaEd and water might interfere to
tent man lie thought there would he no
trouble. lie paid hi gh tribute To the
ability of City Engineer Lilly, and said
he considered him fully competent to
develop the plans. Mr.. Blodgett stated
that hc was II contractor, and could bid
on the proposition Ia lay the sewers.
He had had twenty-one years exper-
fence in the business.
At the request of several members of
the council. he estimated the cost of lay
ing the sewer on Plum street, and on
Front street between Poplar and Plum
streets, at nearly $4,000. This is 81 900
less than the city engineers estimate,
which many people have thought would
not amount to one-third the real cost.
The matter was further talked over,
and various questions asked by different
members of the council, after which an
adjournment was taken.
MR.. BLoDGETT TALKS TO REPORTER.
A FREE PRESS reporter interviewed
Mr.. F. 5. Blodgett OH the sewer question
this morning and elected the following
information. Mr.. Blodgett was very
courteous and talked freely on the sub
ject:
''Why should the main sewer be on
Front street,"
''That street Is lower than Second street
and the fail will be less. Where the fall
is small the friction should be as little as
possible. The larger the pipe, the less
the friction, therefore the larger the
pipe where the fall is small, the better.
Since the fall will be small on Front, this
main, or large pipe, should he placed
there. This will place smaller pipe on
Second street where the fall will be
greater"
"Why should the main sewer be laid
in the center of Front street,"
"The connections on each side of the
pipe will then be of the same length and
the cost to the property owners on each
side of the street will be equal"
"What part of the cos of the system
comes from the city treasury and what
part does the adjacent property owners
pay?"
"The property owners pay for every
thing except the catch basins and the
parts Of the sewer on the cross streets.
or course when the cost exceeds what
could be legally assessed upon the prop
erty owners the excess must come from
the general fund
"What would you do with the surface
water?"
81 would have it carried of in the
sewers, and would drain it from the
east. | would have the creeks carry off
as much as possible. In draining the
water into the sewers. each sewer should
take the water from the east side of the
street upon which the sewer is located,
and also from the west side of the next
street east"
"Do you favor draining the whole city
through one outlet?"
Eyes, sir, do"
"What do you think of our cement
pipe for the sewer?"
1T IS very good. ] understand that
the pipe made here this year is much
better than that made last year. of
course the pipe must be tested first. 1T